You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
18 x December 21, 2017 - January 3, 2018 x www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com<br />
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16<br />
of us went silent as we gazed upon it.<br />
There was no garland strung up nor<br />
carols reverberating from speakers.<br />
One by one, each member of the<br />
youth group stepped cautiously out of<br />
the van.<br />
The first thing we noticed was the air.<br />
How heavy it was, and how it smelled<br />
stale and musty, and not like snicker<br />
doodle cookies. Next to me, Casey, my<br />
best friend, wrinkled her nose, then immediately<br />
started planning where all the<br />
Christmas decorations would go. She<br />
was always one to look on the bright<br />
side.<br />
All of a sudden, Collin, our group<br />
leader, turned around to face us. His<br />
face was solemn, yet hopeful.<br />
“Why are we here?” he asked, taking<br />
the time to look at each one of us individually.<br />
“As you’ve noticed, these people<br />
don’t have money to buy lights for<br />
their houses or wreaths for their doors.<br />
So, one, we’re here to spread Christmas<br />
cheer. But, more importantly, we’re here<br />
to show these people the same love that<br />
God bestows upon us.”<br />
Looking for premium quality<br />
Table Linens and Decor for<br />
the holidays, a special event<br />
or to enhance your home?<br />
Please visit our website<br />
centerpiecetablelinenanddecor.com<br />
WE SPECIALIZE IN:<br />
The determination in his voice was<br />
clear. Each member hurried over to the<br />
van and unloaded the Christmas presents<br />
we’d packed for the children. I carefully<br />
handled the box, studying the little<br />
reindeer and bearded, chubby Santas<br />
on the wrapping paper. This may be<br />
the only present they receive this year,<br />
I thought.<br />
I squinted at the boys playing soccer<br />
on a grassy field, gazed at the<br />
little girls giggling and twisting each<br />
other’s hair, and smiled to myself at the<br />
sight of the many fathers, as well as<br />
mothers, cooking and tending to their<br />
homes.<br />
I took a deep breath, swallowed my<br />
pride and strolled over to a young girl,<br />
head held high and a smile on my face.<br />
I knelt down on one knee and said<br />
softly, “Hi. My name’s Becca. My friends<br />
and I,” and I paused to point at them,<br />
“are here to spread a little Christmas<br />
cheer.”<br />
Then, as the girl slowly picked up her<br />
head to look at my face, I noticed her<br />
big, beautiful brown eyes. Eyes that<br />
were filled with curiosity and wonder<br />
and shine.<br />
Unique Glass Chargers (food grade)<br />
Elegant Table Runners (including limited edition designs)<br />
Gorgeous Table Toppers (tablecloth overlays)<br />
Lustrous Tableсloths<br />
Soft, Satiny, Colorful Napkins<br />
“Thank you,” she said, as she gently<br />
took the box from my hands and set it on<br />
the ground next to her.<br />
And, to my surprise, the brown-eyed<br />
girl jumped up and wrapped her arms<br />
around me, hugging me tightly.<br />
She then whispered four short words<br />
in my ear, “My name is Nadia.”<br />
And I hugged her even tighter.<br />
To this day, my eyes still fill with tears<br />
when I think about that moment. Most<br />
of us think of Christmas as just a time of<br />
glittery decorations and holiday music,<br />
but it’s so much more than that. We are<br />
blessed with so much, so we can always<br />
give love. And that’s the way it is — love<br />
and share, share and love.<br />
Honorable Mention<br />
My Favorite Day<br />
by Emma Jane Patterson<br />
Stoneybrook West<br />
There are many exciting and fun days<br />
during the year. As I go through the year,<br />
I get closer to my favorite day. My favorite<br />
day of the year is Christmas! What I<br />
like about Christmas is getting time off<br />
for vacation, going to the movies, seeing<br />
my friends, sleeping in late and wearing<br />
pajamas.<br />
Usually around Christmas, it is much<br />
colder than any other time of the year.<br />
I like having the windows open at home<br />
and letting the cool air come inside.<br />
I also like being able to wear different<br />
kinds of clothes like sweatshirts and<br />
warmups during this time. Many people<br />
do not like the cold weather, but I find it<br />
refreshing. The colder the better!<br />
Obviously, presents are all-important<br />
during Christmas, because they surprise<br />
the person with the gift inside. I like seeing<br />
a person’s reaction when he or she<br />
receives a present. Most importantly,<br />
I find that giving a present to someone<br />
makes me feel better than receiving<br />
one. It is really the thought of giving<br />
that counts. At my school, we have a<br />
program that is called the Operation<br />
Christmas Child Shoebox Program. The<br />
program gives each child in our school<br />
a shoebox, and we fill the shoebox with<br />
whatever we want. At the deadline of the<br />
program, the people come to each classroom,<br />
collect the boxes and ship them to<br />
a poor country. It is a great way to make<br />
someone feel delighted.<br />
Spending time with my family is important<br />
to me. My family is pleasant to hang<br />
around with on Christmas day. We all<br />
get together at my house. I usually play<br />
with my sisters, cousins and my grandparents<br />
all day. We play basketball,<br />
watch Christmas movies, and gather<br />
around and eat a great Christmas feast.<br />
I am lucky to have so many people be<br />
around me at once.<br />
I hope I will always feel the same way<br />
about this time of year. Christmas is coming,<br />
and I can’t wait to take part in all<br />
my favorite things. I hope you all have a<br />
Merry Christmas, as well!<br />
Honorable Mention<br />
A Christmas Without Her<br />
by Emma Neary<br />
Celebration<br />
Christmas has always been a holiday<br />
that has remained in most people’s<br />
hearts as a joyous tradition; however,<br />
for one young girl, this occasion brought<br />
nothing but the sadness and pain of<br />
ugly memories. Her name was Holly,<br />
and she adored Christmas more than<br />
anything, because the season was spent<br />
with her dear mother, Carol. The holiday<br />
brought them closer, keeping the motherand-daughter<br />
bond. They would make<br />
gingerbread houses, go ice-skating<br />
and sing carols. But their favorite thing<br />
to do was decorate the Christmas tree.<br />
The one thing that connected them was<br />
Christmas.<br />
Unfortunately, all good things eventually<br />
come to an end. Holly’s mother<br />
died a few months before Christmas<br />
due to a fatal car accident. This ended<br />
Holly’s world; her mother was everything<br />
to her, but death had taken her<br />
away. She swung into a hurling depression,<br />
not wanting anything that associated<br />
with her mother, even Christmas.<br />
Holly wanted to avoid the pain, even if<br />
it meant skipping this holiday. Cookies<br />
weren’t made, the skates were untouched,<br />
and a tree was never put<br />
up. Her life remained dark rather than<br />
being lit by the glimmering lights of<br />
Christmas. Holly just couldn’t celebrate<br />
without her mother.<br />
Strange things can happen on<br />
Christmas Eve, not only bizarre events,<br />
but teaching moments. So, on the night<br />
before Christmas Day, Holly got ready<br />
for bed just as she would normally<br />
do. Suddenly, a gust of wind smacked<br />
against her window, pushing it open<br />
with full force. With it, a small picture
Change language